The double US Open champion carded six birdies and two bogeys to edge ahead of defending champion Henrik Stenson, Masters champion Angel Cabrera and overnight leader Robert Allenby.

Cabrera had threatened to pull clear of the field after compiling a superb front nine in glorious conditions.

The Argentinian picked up birdies at the second, sixth, eighth and ninth to reach the turn in 32.

Further birdies followed at the 10th and 12th but his only bogey of the day on the 16th dropped Cabrera back into a tie for second after a 67.

Stenson, who won with a total of 21 under par last year, picked up four shots in his first six holes but was unable to maintain the momentum.

The world number seven bogeyed the 11th and birdied the 13th on his way to a round of 68.

Allenby looked like being left behind after starting his second round with nine straight pars, but the Australian picked up three birdies on the back nine before dropping his first shot of the week on the 15th.

England’s Ross Fisher carded back-to-back eagles on the ninth and 10th in a round of 69 which lifted him to two under, but Rory McIlroy was propping up the 12-man field on five over.

McIlroy admitted at the start of the week he was feeling “run down” after a hectic end to the season and did well to salvage a 76 after playing his first eight holes today in seven over.